Crawford County Divorce Decree Records
Crawford County divorce decree records are held at the Clerk of Superior Court in Knoxville, Georgia. The clerk's office is the official keeper of all divorce case files in Crawford County, and records are available to the public under the Georgia Open Records Act. This guide covers how to request a divorce decree in Crawford County, what case files include, the fees you can expect, the Georgia legal framework for divorce, and where local residents can get legal help.
Crawford County Divorce Decree Quick Facts
How to Get Crawford County Divorce Decrees
The Crawford County Clerk of Superior Court is at 100 S. Main Street, Knoxville, GA 31050. Call (478) 836-3328 to check hours and ask about the records request process. The Crawford County website has contact details for the court. Visiting the Knoxville courthouse in person is the most direct method for requesting a divorce decree. Crawford is a small, rural county. Call before you go to confirm hours and staff availability.
Bring the full legal names of both spouses and the approximate year of the divorce filing. A case number helps narrow the search. Bring valid photo ID. For mail requests, write to the clerk with the case details and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Always ask about fees and payment methods before sending any money in the mail. Small county offices may not have the same extended public hours as larger urban courthouses.
Note: Crawford County is one of Georgia's smaller, rural counties. Make sure to call the clerk's office ahead of any visit, as hours may be limited and staff may need advance notice for larger or older records requests.
What Crawford County Divorce Records Include
A divorce decree from the Crawford County Superior Court is the court's final legally binding order ending a marriage. The decree covers every issue the court resolved: property and debt division, spousal support if any was ordered, and child custody and visitation. Once the judge signs the decree and files it with the clerk, both parties are legally bound. Either can return to court to seek enforcement if the other party fails to follow the terms.
The complete case file at the Crawford County clerk includes the original petition, proof that the respondent was served, financial affidavits, any temporary orders entered while the case was pending, and the final settlement or agreed decree for uncontested cases. Contested cases may also have motion filings and the court's written decisions. The Georgia DPH divorce certificate is a separate, much shorter document. It only confirms that a divorce occurred in Georgia between 1952 and 1996; it does not include case terms, property division details, or custody information. For Crawford County divorces outside that period or if you need the full decree, the county clerk in Knoxville is your source. DPH is at 1680 Phoenix Blvd, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349, (404) 657-2700, or at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords.
Crawford County Divorce Decree Fees
The Crawford County Clerk of Superior Court, shown at crawfordcountyga.org, is the official source for local court records including divorce decrees. The image below shows the county's public-facing records portal.
Copy fees at the Crawford County Clerk of Superior Court follow Georgia's standard court rate structure. Plain copies typically cost $0.50 to $1.00 per page. Certified copies, which carry the clerk's official seal, cost more and are required for legal filings, name changes, and proof of marital status. Ask staff for current rates when you call or visit Knoxville. Confirm fees before sending payment for any mail request.
For state-level divorce verification from the DPH's 1952-1996 index, the fee structure is separate. The DPH Vital Records service at dph.georgia.gov/VitalRecords explains how to submit a request. For all other Crawford County divorce record needs, the county clerk is the right contact.
Georgia Divorce Law in Crawford County
Georgia law applies to every divorce filed in Crawford County. The Superior Court has exclusive jurisdiction under OCGA 19-5-1. At least one spouse must have been a Georgia resident for six months before filing, as set out in OCGA 19-5-2. The petition is filed in the county of either spouse's current residence. For Crawford County residents, that means the Knoxville courthouse.
Georgia recognizes 13 grounds for divorce under OCGA 19-5-3. The no-fault ground, that the marriage is irretrievably broken, is used in the large majority of Crawford County cases. After service on the respondent, a mandatory 30-day waiting period must pass before the final decree can be signed. No exceptions apply, even when both parties fully agree on all terms. Free self-help divorce forms for unrepresented filers are available at the Georgia Courts self-help portal.
The Georgia Open Records Act makes Crawford County divorce decree records publicly available upon a request to the clerk's office in Knoxville.
Public Access to Crawford County Divorce Records
Divorce decree records in Crawford County are public records under the Georgia Open Records Act. Any member of the public can request copies from the Crawford County Clerk of Superior Court. No legal interest in the case and no stated reason is required. The clerk must respond to requests and provide copies for the applicable fee.
Courts can restrict access in limited circumstances. Records may be sealed to protect minor children or when both parties jointly request sealing and the court agrees. Sealed records are not accessible without a court order. This is uncommon in standard Crawford County divorce cases. Most divorce decrees can be obtained through a routine request. For older records stored on paper in archives, allow additional time for the clerk to locate and retrieve the file.
Note: Crawford County is small and rural. The clerk's office serves a limited population and may not have extended public hours. A phone call before any visit or mail request is always a good idea.
Legal Help for Crawford County Divorce
Georgia Legal Services Program provides free legal assistance to qualifying low-income Georgians in central Georgia counties including Crawford. They handle family law matters such as divorce, custody, and support. Apply by phone or online to check eligibility based on income and household size.
Georgia Legal Aid has free online guides and downloadable forms for people handling their own Georgia divorce. For straightforward uncontested Crawford County divorces, these tools can walk you through the filing process step by step. For contested cases or situations involving significant assets, support disputes, or custody disagreements, the State Bar of Georgia has a lawyer referral service. They can connect you with a licensed family law attorney familiar with Crawford County and the surrounding middle Georgia courts. The Georgia Courts website has contact information for the Crawford County Superior Court clerk in Knoxville.